A male nurse who groped and kissed a 75-year-old dementia sufferer has been deemed unfit to practice and struck off.

Dimitrios Kokkinidis had previously been suspended from practicing as a nurse for six months by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) after an initial hearing in March this year.

However, at a review of this decision late last month, an advisory panel became concerned about Mr Kokkinidis’ lack of involvement with the proceedings and complete lack of remorse.

They also expressed concerns that there was no evidence he had attempted to keep his medical knowledge and skills up to date during his suspension, and stated they had no evidence to suggest Mr Kokkinidis was no longer a threat to members of the public.

The NMC report concludes: “There is nothing before the panel to assure it that Mr Kokkinidis recognised the gravity of his actions.

“Given the lack of insight and remorse shown by him, and in the absence of any evidence of remediation, the panel cannot be satisfied that there is no risk of repetition.”

The striking off order will come into effect at the end of his suspension, on October 28.

During the inital hearing in March, the nurse said the act, which took place in May 2015 at Moreland House care home, Manor Avenue, Hornchurch, was not sexual and was performed to “comfort” the patient who had soiled herself and was in distress.

At the time of the incident Kokkinidis was not directly employed by the home but was agency staff, and as soon as Moreland House staff were made aware of the accusations they informed the police.

In an interview with officers, Kokkinidis said he thought the elderly women was “about to take her breast out of her bra” and he had pushed it back in.

He admitted kissing the woman and said that while he had not intended to do so he probably did “get the mouth”.

At the time, the NMC labelled his actions “misguided” but did not think it warranted being struck from the register.

The panel noted that the kissing took place in a corridor which is a public place and “somewhere he would be noticed”.

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